Sol: Last Days of a Star (2017) Board Game

Sol: Last Days of a Star is a board game released in 2017, designed by Jon Mietling and featuring artwork by Elephant Laboratories. The game is set in a distant future where the Sun is dying, and players must race against time to collect resources and save their civilization before the star goes supernova.

Game Components of Sol: Last Days of a Star

Player Boards: Each player has a board representing their civilization.

Motherships: Five unique motherships, each with its own lore and abilities.

Sundivers: Small ships used for gathering energy and resources.

Structures: Solar gates, energy nodes, sundiver foundries, and transmit towers.

Instability Cards: 30 potential effects that add variability to the game.

Energy Cubes: Used for powering actions and structures.

Instability Marker: Tracks the progression towards the supernova.

Mythos Book: Contains lore and background for the five worlds.

How To Setup Sol: Last Days of a Star

Setup involves placing each player’s mothership equidistant from each other between the inner and outer orbits. Players start with their ark at 0 momentum and a few sundivers in their hold. The instability deck is created, and instability effects are assigned. Each player takes the pieces related to their chosen color and places the remaining pieces in reserve.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Player Turns: Consist of three phases – take an action, draw instability cards, and orbit the mothership.

Actions: Convert (build structures) or Activate (use built structures).

Instability Cards: Drawn in correlation to actions taken, with effects ranging from simple to complex and negative.

Orbiting: Move the mothership one space counterclockwise around the board.

Objective: Gain enough energy to propel your civilization away from the dying star, with the goal of escaping the supernova by launching yourself the farthest.

Player Experience

Players engage in a resource management and strategy game where they must balance building structures, gathering energy, and navigating the risks posed by instability cards. The game is dynamic, with each turn potentially altering the landscape due to the effects of the instability cards. Players must strategically use their sundivers to build and activate structures that will aid in their escape.

Pros

Deep Strategy: Requires thoughtful planning and resource management.

High Replayability: Random instability effects and multiple player paths ensure varied gameplay experiences.

Thematic Immersion: The lore and mythos add a rich layer to the game, enhancing player engagement.

Cons

Complexity: The game has a steep learning curve due to the numerous mechanics and interactions.

Time Commitment: Games can be lengthy as players navigate the multiple phases and complexities.

Luck Element: Instability cards can introduce significant randomness, affecting player outcomes.

Personal Thoughts on Sol: Last Days of a Star

**Sol: Last Days of a Star** is ideal for fans of strategic and resource management games who appreciate a high level of complexity and replayability. It is best suited for experienced board game enthusiasts who enjoy immersing themselves in detailed gameplay mechanics and thematic depth. The game’s dynamic nature and the pressure of escaping a supernova make it a compelling and challenging experience.

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